Wire twisting device



July I, 1941. GERRARD 2,247,776

WIRE TWISTING DEVICE h Filed Dec. 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 1, 1941. J. M. GERRARD WIRE TWISTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4" .fizverzior s/rajif Gerrard Z0123: ess

Patented July 1, 1941 UN T D: ST E 2,247,776II'I I I WIRE TWISTING-DEV-IGE V h ij -f b hicago, Ill." I II I I II II Application December 14, 1940; Seri' I N 370,151, r I v II I II 9 Claims. 01. 140 93' 1.

The invention relates generally to a'machine for securing two overlapping bights of wire, or the like, together and'more particularly toa combined tensioning and wire fastening device of novel construction for use in forming-bundles or packages, etc.

The invention has among its objects the production of such a. device which is simple andeflicient in operation and durable in construction.-

A- further'object of 'the'invention is the production of such a device which will efliciently tension a wire around a bundleand twist the overlapping ends together to form a splice or a knot and in the same operativegive thewires an'additional or overtwist,-severing the ends of the wire duringthe vertwisting operation so a that the ends of the finished splice or-knot willbe positioned substantially below face of the wire. I

Aiurther object of the inventionisthe production of suchatensioning fastening device in the upper. surwhich the number of twists formed in the wire I and the amount of overtwist may be varied to meet the particular need, the adjustments to accomplish this result being. easily and quickly made. M g i Another object of the inventionis'the production of such a device which. is so constructed that vupon completion of the overtwisting and cuttingv operation the twister pinion will be-automaticallyreturned to a position permitting the easy removal of. the machine from the binding result. 7

A further object; of the invention is the production of such a device having resilient cushioningmeans forv thetensioning lever vwhen the tension ends of the vviresv have been severed.

A further object of the invention is the pro-n duction of such a device having novel .means for holding one and oi the vwire during the tensioning operation, whereby the -wire may .be.

easily. and quickly inserted therein.

Many other objects and advantages in, theconj struetion herein shown and described. will be.

obvious to those skilled in the art from the dis-.

closure herein given. I I r To this end my invention consistsin the novel construction, arrangement and combination. of, parts herein shown and described .and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings whereinglike reference char: acters indicate like or corresponding parts;

Fig. 1 is a top plan .view Ora-machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side .elevational view of the same with the tension lever cushioning means, shown in sections;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the machine with a portion thereof broken away: to

illustrate details of the-tensioningmechanism;

the line 5-5 of Fig 3;

ship between the parts;

Fig. 4- is a plan view of the cutting mechanism with the twister pinion construction shown in" section; I I p I Fig; 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on Fig, 6 is 'asectional View taken on the line.66 of Fig.3;

Fig; 7 is a perspective view of the twisting pinion-and cutter members showing the relation- Fig. '8 is a perspective View illustrating the manner'in which'the ends of the wire are twisted togetherand severed;- I I Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the left-hand cutter assembly illustrated in Fig. 7; I

Fig. 10 isa similar side-'elevational view of-th right-hand cutter barwith the slotted wireholding yoke or member shown-indotted lines;.;-

-Fig.- 11 is a sectional View taken substantially .gdbn the line l-I-llot Fig; 3 showing the=details I of the right-hand gripper assembly; and Fig,- 1 2 is a perspectiveview of l the left-hand spiral nut for actuating the tension screw.

As illustrated in the drawings-,- the device com- -=-prises a base designated generally by thanumeral. l having a pair 0t spaced bearing supports 2 ex tending upwardly therefrom, the latter in the present instance being rigidly s'ecuredtothe base I by suitable bolts-3. The bearing. supports 2,.

each being provided witha square shank 9' positionedin a corresponding hole, intherespective members 1 and 8,.thescrews and members being locked to one another byanysuitable meanssuch as set screws H. 'Ihetmembers .1. and 8 ride on rails l2. and. I3, respectively,integrallyiormed in the present instance with thebase I, the meme ber I being formed with-achannelllt of a size to. receivethe rail 12 andthe member-8 with-a cor-- responding channel. I5, as clearlyillust'ratedxin Fig. 11.. One of .the.screWst6 .isprovided with:

right-handed grooves l6 and the other screw with left-handed grooves, so-that rotation ofthe sleeve 4 and nuts 5-will.cause the screws 6 .and members I and 8 to travel in opposite directions along. the rails IZ-v and B, respectively. ,Secured to the sleeve 4 by any'suitable means isan operating. lever on handle I 1- positioned .adjacentthe :left

substantially hand bearing member 2. Thus, when the lever I1 is moved from a more or less vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2, towards the rear of the machine in the direction of the arrow, the members I and 8 will ,move outwardly in opposite directions and when the handle is returned to its original position the members i and 3 will be drawn towards the bearing members 2. spring 18 secured at one end to the anchor pin I9 and at the opposite end by screw 2% to the lever ll, is operated to return the lever to the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

A coil.

This general construction is similar to that 'described in the Bruninghaus Patent No. 1,963,691, dated June 19, 1934.

Pivotally carried by the left-hand member i is a dog 2| adapted to grip an end or" the wire between the toothed portion of the dog and a pin 2|, the dog and pin in the present instance being positioned in a slot 22 in the member 1. The dog 2! as illustrated in Figs. 2,3 and 4, is provided with a suitable groove 23 which is of a size to receive the wire. The member 8 is, likewise, provided with a dog 2 pivotally secured to the member by a bolt 25. As illus trated in Figs. 3 and 11, the member 8 is provided with an upwardly extending portion 2-? having a bore 27 therein, of a size to receive a plunger 28, the outer end of which is engageable with the upwardly extending projection 29 of the dog. A spring 3| urges the plunger 23 into engagementwith the arm 29 of the dog, thus, tending to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction about the bolt 25. Extending outwardly directly below the dog 2 3 is a plate 32 cooperable with the dog to grip the wire therebetween, the plate 32, in the present instance, being formed separately from the member 8 and positioned in a slot 33 formed in the member, bolts 3% firmly securing the plate to the member. Positioned intermediate the members i and 8 is a twister pinion 35, the latter being journaled in blocks 36 secured to the base I by screws ST. The pinion 35 is provided with a slot 38 of slightly larger width than the'diameter oi" the wire to be twisted, the slot 33 enlarging on each side of the toothed portion 3%, as shown at M. Positioned on opposite sides of the blocks 36 in alignment withthe axis of the pinion 35 are slotted 'wire holding yokes or members 52 and 23, respectively, theslots il and t5 being of slightly larger width than the wire to be twisted. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7, it will be noted that the opposed edges of the slots id and ii) are beveled as shown at 48, the outer edges being square. The yokes 2-2 and 63 seat on shoulders t"! formed on the base i and are rigidly secured thereto by bolts 38 which also form bearings for the cutter bars as will hereinafter be described, the ends of the bolts 68 passing intolugs 49 formed on the base.

In operation the two wires to be twisted together are positioned in the slots at and E5 of the yokes 42 and '13 and through the slot 38 in the twister pinion 35. The slots id and Q5 hold the wires in position while the portions intermediate the yokes are being twisted by the pinion 35 to form a splice or knot as illustrated in Fig. 8. i

Freely carried on the sleeve i is a driving gear 5!, the latter being meshed with the pinion 35 to drive the same. Also, carried by the sleeve 4 is an operating lever or handle designated generally by the numeral 52, this lever like the gear 5| being freely rotatable on the sleeve.

The gear 5! and lever 52 are operatively connected to one another by a locking member 53 carried by the handle 52 and secured thereto by a bolt 5i passing through an elongated slot 55 in the locking member. Extending from the latter is a tooth 5t en ageable with the teeth on the driving gear 5i whereby the gear and the lever are efiiciently locked together. Thus, movement of the lever about the sleeve 4 will .rotate the gear M which in turn will drive the twister pinion 35. Also, rotatably carried by the sleeve! is a cutter actuating cam member '5? positioned adjacent the right-hand side of 4 and 5, are a pair of spaced ears 6% which carry a pin 61 therebetween. The cutter operating cam 51 is provided with a rearwardly extend.- ing projection having a cam edgefit engageable with the pin 8? when the member 51 is rotated on the sleeve 4. Rotation of the member 5'1 is accomplished by meansof the twisting lever 5'2 which is provided with a laterally extending pin 59 engageable with the lug. H of the cam member 5?, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Thus, continued downward movement or" the handle 52 from the position shown in Fig, 5 will rotate the cam member 5'? with the handle due to the engagement of the pin W with the lug H. Rotation of the member 57 will cause engagement of the cam edge thereof with the pin 61, raising the latter to rotate the cutter bars about the boits 18 and actuate the cutters. A flat spring 12 is secured at one end to the base I by screws E3, the 'free end of the spring engaging the spacer member 64 to normally maintain the cutter assembly in the position illustrated in Fig. 5. The spring l2 acting through the cutter assemj bly will also cause the cutter operating member El to assume its normal position, thereby bringing the handle 52,. driving'gear 5| and twister pinion 3:: into the position illustrated in Fig. 5.

The handle 52 is'also provided with a pair of stop members, designated generally'by the numerals M and 15, respectively. The stop 14, in the present instance, is in the form of a stud l6 threaded into the projection W of the handle and locked in place by the lock nut 13.

in dotted lines in Fig. 5, to limit the movement of the twisting lever 52, while the stop 15, comprising the stud l9 threaded into a lateral projecting portion 8! of the lever 52 and locked in place by the lock nut 82, engageable with the base I, as shown in Fig. 2, to limit the return movement of the lever 52 and by means of which'the initial or starting position of the lever may be adjusted and controlled. When an adjustment of the member 53 has been made to change the number of twists made in the wire, the stop 15 provides a means of adjusting the initial position of the handle 52 to bring the twister pinion to an open position when the handle is in such initial position.

The .stop 14 is engageable with the base i, as shown 'As previously-mentioned the --two wires to be twisted =tge-ther -are positioned side by side ---in the slots-44- and 4 5-of- =the-=members 42 and 43, respectively,- and. the-slot s38 =of the twister pinion- Y As noted "in Figs.- 4 and 8 the free end F- of I the wire is positioned adjacent the closed end ofthe slot 44, while the cor-responding gfr'ee end B at-the opposite sideof thesplice or knot is positioned adj acent-the open end pf the-slot withthe adjacentloop portions L and L of the-Wire -being at the open and closedends of thes10ts-44--and:-45, respectively.

7 shown in -Fig.-9--cutter bar BZ isprovided witha slot-"83 of a --si-ze to -receive-theloop-=-portion-' L-- of :the

wireso that "thecutter 'barwill not sever-- the i same. i The-latter is also providedwith a-s'hearing edge-84positionedto' engage the end-F of the wire and cooperate with-the adjacent edge of" the slot-'44 to sever=the-free end F oi?- the wire closely adjacent to --theknot "or splice as a clearlyshown-in-= Fig; -8.- It will bemoted that the cutter -bar 62 is provided with a beveled edge- 85 adjacent-the portion L of the Wire, operable-to guide the-'wire into-theslot 83 should the wire not" be properly aligned therewith.

As shown in Fig. 10 thecutter bar 63 :is provided withaslotBB-adapted to receive theopposite side -L" of-thelooped-portion of "the-wire. and also providedwith ashearing edge 81 cooperable with-=the adjacent edge of theslot 45 to sever the otherfree end R of the wire. -Thus, the cutter "bars 62 and 63 will sever-the ends of the wire without affecting the looped portion thereof. I

The operation of the deviceis as follows: The machineais placed uponthe bundleto be tied and -the-free-=end of the-wire, which may -be drawn fromarollor the like, is -secured to the gripper! by inserting-the end of the wire- -between the pine-2i" and the teeth of the dog 2i, as clearly= shown in Fig. 4. The wire serted in therslots-44,38-and 4'5, and thenengaged between-the dog M-and'pIate-M. It .will be-notecl from reference to-Fig. 11 that the outer edge of the dog 24 adjacent the teeth 88 thereon is chamfered, as shown :at: 89, sothat the end R-of the wire may be readily engagedwith the dogawithout manually actuating the latter, the wire merely being positioned adjacent the-chamfered edge of the dog and pulled laterally in the direction of the dog so that the wirewill engage theechamfered .edge 33, raising'the dog and-permitting the-wire to engage the teeth 88. The tensioning lever- I'Lis then rotated from its position illustrated in Fig.2, .in the direction of thearrow, rotating the sleeve4 and spiral nuts 5 therewith, and causing the screws 5: to move outwardly carrying with, them. the gripping members land 8, to tension the wire around the bundle. When thewire has been sufficiently tensioned-the handle I! is held in positionand thetwisting lever 52- rotated from its initialpositionyshown in Fig. 2 in-the direction ofthe arrow to the position shown inFig. 5, thereby rotating the driving gear- 5| and twister pinion 35 thus twisting the twobights together. C'ontinued movement of the lever 52 will then cause engagement of the pin 69 onthe lever and the lug H on the cam member 51 and thus :begin to operatethe cutter bars as has been previously described. Simultaneously therewith the driving gear 5| will continue to rotate the twister pinpinion slot 38- is. in aligned position-with the slots 244 and 45. to permit removal- :of' the bindingbresultfrom themachine. I

The application of the overtwist to: the wire relieves the tensionthatwould otherwise-be present' in-:.the .knot due to :the resiliency 'ofthe wire which would cause the completed 'spliceato turn. andengage the; side walls of .1 the slot -38 in. the .twisterpinion, preventingeasy: removal of the machine from the completed binding ;result. ,However, :by. applying a .sufificientiovertwist to thesamesuchactionis prevented sothat upon return of the. lever. 52 to its-releasing,.position :illustratedinFig. 5 the. machine. mayaberead ily removedfrom the-binding resultwithout-any tendency. to; stick or bind. Likewise, .bymutting the wires J during the. .overtwisting operation the endsv of the wire. are, positioned .below the.-..top surfaceofthe wire. r

i As the. tensioninglever. 1| I has.--.b.een manually .held inpositionto maintain. .thewires .in tensioned relationship during. thetwisting. operation -there, is. a, tendency for the. lever, I 1. .to move rearwardly as soonas, the tensioned ends :of theiwire have been .severed,..due ,to the .applied. forceon the lever -l l. and, the. release of the tension, thereon. .-,To ..cushion.this ,movementofthe lever..-I1

a resilient bumper is provided comprisingfaisube stantially cylindrical housing member. 9! threaded into. thebase i; and .providedwith a.bore.92. Slidable in t he. bore isv a plunger 93 which. is urged upwardly. by a spring .94. A. threaded ,cap .95 completes the structure, the. plunger.9.3;having an annular shoulder 96 engageabletwithg the cap 55, wherebyth p n er isv retainedin the housing.v As shown. in, Fig. 1, ,the plunger is positioned in the. path otthe lever," sojhat it will be engagedby the latter.at the end,of its, rearward travel, thus,v cushioning the. same and pr v n t e v r f o strik n t e-bas It. will be. noted. that the. rel ationship of the lever .52 with the driving gear Sl-andpinion -35 may be variedby sliding the gear ;locking;;member along the. s1ot, .55 to vary. the po sition, of the. tooth .55 with. respectthereto, andlikewise, thestop 15 may be adjusted to shorten -or lengthen; the travel ofthe arm 52. By meansof such adjustments themoyement :of the twister pinion and the amount of twist put in thewires may be varied to. fit the, actual requirements. Similarly. by adjusting .the stop; 14,, th amount of. overtwist, applied. tothe wire may be con trolled for different types..of;wire;etc. p Itwill be apparent from theabove :descrip- .tion that I have. provided a machine of the. kind described which is. ,very flexible. and. e icient in operation, in which an .overtwist is applied to the wire and the freeends of, the same..- severed in onecontinuous operation. Also, that I have provided a novel cutting/assembly which will severboth 1 ends of. the wire, closely. adjacent tothe knot or. splice providing a.,finished1.bi d.- =ing result 1 that .is strongland; durable. Having thus: .describedgmy. invention, it,,;is ,;pbvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

j 1,. In a wire tying machine, the combination of a pair of spring returnable selective tensioning members movable in opposite directions, means on the respective members for holding the respective ends of a pair of overlapping bights of wire, a slotted wire twisting pinion for twisting said overlapping bights of wire together while under tension, and a straddle cutter operable at the completion of the twisting operation to cut the tensioned ends of the wire and permit the machine to be released from its binding result.

2. In a wire tying machine, the combination of a base member, a pair of spring returnable manually selective tensioning members carried by the base member and movable in opposite directions, means on the respective members for holding the respective ends of a pair of overlapping bights, a slotted wire twisting pinion for twisting said overlapping bights of wire together while under tension, a U-shaped cutter member pivotally carried by the base member and operable to simultaneously out the tensioned ends of the wire, a lever for actuating said twister pinion and means operatively connecting said lever and cutter for actuating the latter.

3. Inna wire tying machine, the combination of a pair of spring returnable manually selective tensioning members movable in opposite directions, means on the respective members for holding the respective ends of a pair of overlapping bights, a slotted wire twisting pinion for twisting said overlapping bights of wire together while under tension, a U-shaped cutter member having a pair of spaced shearing edges positioned at opposite sides of said twisting pinion, a member positioned adjacent each cutting edge and cooperable therewith for cutting the tensioned ends of the wire, one or" said cutting edges having a notch formed therein to receive the adjacent bight of wire to prevent severance of the same, the other cutting edge having a similar notch formed therein to receive the other bight of wire, whereby said cutter is operable to sever only the tensioned ends of the wire.

1. In a wire tying machine, the combination of a slotted wire twisting pinion for twisting said overlapping bights of wire together while under tension, av U-shaped cutter member having a pair of spaced shearing edges positioned at opposite sides of said twisting pinion, a member positioned adjacent each cutting edge and cooperable therewith for cutting the tensioned ends of the wire, one of said cutting edges having a notch formed therein to receive the adjacent bight of wire to prevent severance of the same, one of the walls of said notch being chamiered to divert the bight into the notch, the other cutting edge having a similar notch formed therein to receive the other bight of wire, whereby said cutter is operable to sever only the tensioned ends of the wire.

5. In a wire tying machine, the combination of a slotted wire twisting pinion for twisting a pair of overlapping bights of wire together, a toothed driving member engageable with said pinion, a lever for actuating said member, 2, lug carried by said lever 'engageablewith the teeth on said member by mcans of which said member and lever may be secured in a plurality of positions relative one another, and means for van;- ingthe initial position of said lever to compensate for changes between said lever and driving member and align the twister slot in open position at the initial position of the lever.

5. In a wire tying machine, the combination of a pair of spring returnable selective tensioning members movable in opposite directions, means on the respective members for holding the respective ends or" a pair of overlapping bights of wire, a slotted wire twisting pinion for twisting said overlapping bights of wire together while under tension, a toothed driving member engageabie with said pinion, a lever operatively connected to said driving member for actuating the same, and an adjustable stop carried by said lever engageable with a portion of the machine to limit the travel of said lever, and define the point at which the twisting operation shall cease.

7. In a wire tying machine, the combination of a slotted wire twisting pinion for twisting a pair of overlapping bights of wire together, a toothed driving member engageable with said pinion, a lever for actuating said member, means for connecting said member and lever in a plurality of positions relative one another, and an adjustable stop for varying the initial position oi the member to align the twister slot in open position.

8. In a wire tying machine, the combination of a pair of spring returnable selective tensioning members movable in opposite directions, means on the respective members'for holding the respective ends of a pair of overlapping bights of wire, a slotted wire twisting pinion for twisting said overlapping bights of wire together while under tension, a toothed driving member engageable with said pinion, a lever operatively connected to said driving member for actuating the same, and cooperating means on said lever and member for selectively varying the relationship therebetween to increase or reduce the number of twists'made in said bights by the twister pinion.

9. In a wire tying machine, the combination of a pair of spring returnable selective tensioning members movable relative one another in opp0- site directions, means on'the respective members for holding the respective ends of a'pair of overlapping bights of wire, a slotted wire twisting pinion for twisting said overlapping bights of wire together while under tension, a toothed driving member engageable with said pinion, a lever operatively connected to said driving member for actuating the same, and rotating said pinion, the slot in the latter being in open position at the beginning and end of its main twisting operation for the insertion of the wire therein and withdrawal therefrom, continued movement of said lever after completion of the twisting operation operative to rotate said pinion and provide an overtwist, cutting means at opposite sides of said pinion actuated by such continued movement of said lever for severing the tensioned ends of the wire, and resilient means for returning said pinion subsequent to the overtwisting, to its open position at the end of the main twisting operation.

JOHN M. GERRARD. 

